2026-09-30 11:49:PM <br/> Tags: #organization #Program #AmericanJewry ![[image-306.png|311x311]] # Project Interchange - Project Interchange is a program that brings world leaders, academics, media figures, and religious leaders to Israel for "customized, high-level educational experiences."[^1] - Project Interchange was founded in 1982 and, since 1992, has been a subsidiary program of the [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]]. - The program has brought over 6,400 leaders to Israel for the purpose of "strengthening Israel’s place in the world, countering antisemitism, and building support for peace."[^1] #### Program History and Activities - Project Interchange was founded by Debra Berger in 1982 in Washington D.C. - Initially, the program was closely supported by the America-Israel Friendship League, a joint Israeli-American pro-Israel nonprofit formed by a number of pro-Israel American politicians in 1971.[^3][^4] - - According to former [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]] CEO [[David Harris]], the program "went from a few missions [to Israel] a year to pre-COVID, well into 20-25 missions a year, roughly every two weeks." - In 2024, the [[American Jewish Committee (AJC)]] and [[Hillel International]] announced a partnership "to Counter Antisemitism on Campus."[^8] - As part of the partnership, Project Interchange and Hillel's Campus Climate Initiative sent a joint delegation of university and college leadership to Israel.[^9] #### Funding and Donors #### Notable Figures/Program Attendees - Debra Berger - Founder - [[David Harris]] - AJC CEO in 1992 who led the integration of Project Interchange into the AJC.[^2] - Lisa Eisen - Director for nine years around the 1990s.[^6] - Eisen is co-president of the [[Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation]]. - She is a board member at the [[Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI)]]. - She was the founding board chair of the [[Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC)]]. - Robin Levenston - Director from 2014-2019.[^7] - Levenston was formerly Vice President for Israel and Global Philanthropy at The [[Jewish Agency]]. - Levenston has previously worked at [[B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO)]] and the [[Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)]]. - Nisha Abkarian - Director since 2019.[^5] - Notable program attendees include: - Left wing U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor[^2] #### References [^1]: American Jewish Committee (AJC), “About Project Interchange,” [https://www.ajc.org/projectinterchange/about-project-interchange](https://www.ajc.org/projectinterchange/about-project-interchange). [^2]: American Jewish Committee (AJC), “Our Story,” Project Interchange, [https://www.ajc.org/projectinterchange/our-story](https://www.ajc.org/projectinterchange/our-story). [^3]: “America–Israel Friendship League,” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%E2%80%93Israel_Friendship_League](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%E2%80%93Israel_Friendship_League). [^4]: America–Israel Friendship League (AIFL), “About,” [https://aifl.org/about/](https://aifl.org/about/). [^5]: American Jewish Committee (AJC), “Nisha Abkarian,” [https://www.ajc.org/bio/nisha-abkarian](https://www.ajc.org/bio/nisha-abkarian). [^6]: Democratic Majority for Israel, “Lisa Eisen,” [https://demmajorityforisrael.org/team/lisa-eisen/](https://demmajorityforisrael.org/team/lisa-eisen/). [^7]: American Jewish Committee (AJC), “Robin Levenston,” [https://www.ajc.org/bio/robin-levenston](https://www.ajc.org/bio/robin-levenston). [^8]: Hillel International, “AJC and Hillel International Expand Partnership to Counter Antisemitism on Campus,” March 28, 2024, [https://www.hillel.org/ajc-and-hillel-international-expand-partnership-to-counter-antisemitism-on-campus/](https://www.hillel.org/ajc-and-hillel-international-expand-partnership-to-counter-antisemitism-on-campus/). [^9]: AJC Project Interchange, "A delegation of U.S. community college presidents has returned home from Israel...," *Facebook*, August 1, 2025, [https://www.facebook.com/ProjectInterchange/posts/a-delegation-of-us-community-college-presidents-has-returned-home-from-israel-af/1142049281304253/](https://www.facebook.com/ProjectInterchange/posts/a-delegation-of-us-community-college-presidents-has-returned-home-from-israel-af/1142049281304253/).